Identifying the Dominica King Edward VII issues watermarked Multiple Crown CA is primarily a matter of determining the watermark, and then sorting between ordinary and chalk paper for the 1/2d issue. The design was used from 1903 until it was replaced with a new design in 1923. You will find it printed on paper with three different watermarks, Crown CC, Multiple Crown CA, and Multiple Script CA. This article deals only with the King Edward VII issues watermarked Multiple Crown CA, which were printed from 1907 to 1908 when they were replaced with new colors which continued into the reign of King George V.

Other than the 1/2d issue the color changes are significant and easily sorted. The 1/2d issues were initially issued in a Green color which was first on Chalk paper and then on Ordinary paper. This was replaced by a Blue-Green color and later a Deep Green color during the King George V era. You probably need a few copies of the stamps to accurately sort the color, but hopefully the ones shown on this page and the King George V page will help you figure it out.

If you have trouble determining the watermarks on these stamps, try looking at them face down against black paper. The stamps watermarked Multiple Crown CA will appear sideways (except for the 5/ issue which was printed upright). When viewed from the back, the CA will be at the right side of the paper. The image below shows the way it should appear when viewed with the stamp placed face down.

Most of the KEVII chalk paper issues do not react to the silver test,. For this issue, I suggest you rub your finger across the face of the stamp. It will move smoothly over chalk paper, and will feel some resistance over the ordinary paper. For the record, chalk paper is really just paper with a coating which helps the ink be applied more effectively. It tends to leave a better quality impression and in many cases also will seem a little shiny when looked at under a good light source.

Unlike modern stamps which are issued in the millions, definitive sets in the early 1900's were issued very conservatively. Here are the print quantities for the higher values of this set. 6d - 4,080, 2/ - 4,200, 2/6 - 4,000 and 5/ - 4,140..

The catalog numbers are from the 1980 Commonwealth Five Reigns Catalogue (CW), 2013 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue (SG) and the 2011 Scott catalog (ST). Some of the catalogues show these issues in different order than you will see them here. The description and print quantities are from the Commonwealth Catalogue. Please contact Bridger & Kay to obtain a copy of this publication. You can access the other publishers using the "Links to British Colonial Stamp Sites" at the bottom of this page.

The images were saved in a larger size and at a higher resolution so you can more easily see the details used in sorting them. Please be patient if it takes a few minutes for this page to load.

This article was written to help you identify your stamps.
Please feel free to ask a question, or include a correction.